Shootings just this week have claimed the life of a young teen and left two in critical condition, within miles of each other, and community activists are calling for a change.
“We, as a city, are going to have to come together and say enough is enough,” says Justice Coalition Executive Director Ann Dugger.
Over the weekend, 13-year-old Jazmine Shelton was killed and her 14-year-old friend left fighting for her life when dozens of shots were fired in to the trailer where they slept. This morning, 18-year-old Darryl Arnold was shot in the head while riding his bicycle. Police have little available suspect description or motive for either shooting.
“It is unacceptable, and we should come unglued about it,” Dugger says.
She tells me this recent rash of crime may be concentrated in Northwest Jacksonville, but she fields concerned calls every day from all over the city. She says part of the problem is that there isn’t enough police presence to deter crime, but there is also a lack of community bond that was once present.
“Are we going to look out for our neighbors? Are we going to be conscious of what’s going on next door? Are we going to do something about it?”
She hopes to see the community start to step up to the plate to not just help bring those responsible for these crimes to justice, but help fight future problems.
